Hey folks - the 1.2 patch for The Burton Equation, the final planned patch, is now out. It features a small bevy of game-side changes, with more emphasis on meta additions like open-sourced code, an example addon for modding the mod, and older branches made available on Steam for people to try.

First, we'll go into the open-sourcing and branches added on Steam.


The code for The Burton Equation is now public on github, at this link: https://github.com/Kralich/the-burton-equation-mapbase

This means you can now look at how features like the powerups or different weapon mechanics were done. You can use this code in your own mods, or even use it when making a mod of some kind for TBE. Just be sure to credit all of the programmers in the credits for TBE (so 1upD, Blixibon, arbabf, and Barcode Scanner).


In addition to the code, many older builds of the mod have now been made available on Steam; one build for each year of development, plus a build for the 1.0 release of the mod. This was at the request of a few individuals specifically interested in cataloguing the development history of the mod. These can be accessed on Steam, via "properties", then "betas", and selecting the build you'd like from the dropdown list.


There's been a handful of people expressing interest in modding TBE, and although I enabled file/addon posting, people still seemed confused on how to upload addons and where. I created this quick sample addon so the section will now show on the main page and as an example for others. If you like how it looks, you can download it here: https://www.moddb.com/mods/the-burton-equation/addons/tbe-example-addon-black-usp

That concludes all of the modding/meta additions to TBE; now for the actual game additions.

In the release, health vials and most ammo pickups glowed to help with visibility in some chapters and also add to the arcadey vibe of the mod. In this release, the health kit was given glows as well, and the explosives added to many chapters were also given a special glow-type.


Since the player doesn't have a gravity gun, physics-based combat mainly boiled down to explosives and other map-based events. With this code change, the kick will now propel held props at the same physics force as if it were on the ground. It's not a true "gravity gun", but can be used to great effect with certain props.


Melee combat is not necessarily the main way to kill enemies, but I feel the punch-punch-kick combo is a pretty fun one to land now and then, and have always felt a lot of the fun in TBE is trying to use the tools available to kill enemies in different ways than just shooting them. You can now charge up a "super punch" which does more damage than the kick, with the alt-fire button; so, a kick and a charge melee will now dispatch most enemies (or, softening them up with a pistol or other environmental damage first). It also has a similar amount of physics force as the kick, for punching dudes off of buildings or down flights of stairs.

And that's all for the 1.2 patch. Thanks everyone who followed the mod's history, who has provided feedback, any interest, and of course everyone who contributed to making the mod happen. If you do anything interesting with the mod's code, assets, maps, and etc, please feel free to get in touch with me on Discord with the username kralich. 

Hey all! The Burton Equation 1.1 patch is now out, which covers almost all maps of the game and features feedback amendments with current reviews in mind. Most of the changes were in the 20s, 40s, and 80s, but some fixes still came in for the HL2 era and some game-wide changes will affect that chapter too. The TL;DR for the big changes are:

• A new scripted combat sequence in every map of the 20s, 40s, and 80s. Metrocops are responsible for almost all of these, doing things like ambushing the player more regularly, sentries that will trigger reinforcements, pushing explosives or props down slopes/stairs at the player, or tipping over props for slightly better cover against player attacks, with a few extras besides these. There are also two new environmental sequences, one in the 40s and one in the 80s, for observant players to switch up their approach to engaging enemies. More explosives are also present in all 40s and 80s for a change-up in how to deal with squads of cops
  
• An attempt at improving encounter variety, both via the varied tactics above but also by introducing shield scanners and hopper mines into the 40s, and manhacks into the 80s, both with intent to stagger out the enemy introduction and reduce reliance on metrocop combat. Lots of fun interactions to be had with kicking hopper mines back at cops, or manhacks breaking through the glass panels seen in the 80s levels
  
• A general rebalance of the game, largely mitigating enemy spam, reducing the difficulty spike of the 40s, and elevating some of the less viable weapons in the arsenal

Please note old saves will not work with this patch!

A full changelog is below, if you'd like the details! I'll do a temperature check following this update to see what's working better than before and what still needs a look over, and evaluate a 1.2 in the New Year. Thanks for your thoughts so far, and Happy New Year!

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(Note that I wrote most of this instructionally to myself - all of these have been amended in some capacity, none of these are "pending changes")

Misc
-achievements menu needs to be removed
-40s seems a little overtuned in difficulty overall, mainly s_d2 and s_d3; reduced enemies, increased health pickups
-40s generally has places you can break out of the map
-20s trash cans have some broken UVs
-the trainstation fences need better collisions to be shot through
-kick whilst reloading
-extend the length of 1920s radio captions
-line breaks on 1920s radio captions
-extend the length caption of fabreen monologues in the 2010s
-weird USP collisions
-fixed fabreen mask cubemap weirdness on integrated graphics
-5 extra scripted sequences for 20s (1 per map)
-5 extra scripted sequences for 40s (1 per map)
-5 extra scripted sequences for 80s (1 per map)
-1 destruction setpiece for 40s
-1 destruction setpiece for 80s
-improve arms
-improve gloves
-improve USP visuals
-improve tommy gun model shading
-improved USP hand deformation
-speed up reloads for glock , USP, tommy gun, tesla tommy, mp40, smg1, crossbow
-manhacks in the 80s with a new texture/model for the era
-shield scanners with mines in the 40s with a new model for the era
-sprint sound cancels power up sounds when pressed
-updated powerup sounds
-waving sepia german flags now use the modified Combine flag depicted in comics
-fixed inconsistency in Terminus map background image

N_d1
-invisible wall under the stairs in the radio room
-add some extra details
-made a metrocop into a sentry, and upon spotting the player summons two other cops to ambush them
-fixed a wonky ragdoll magnet setup causing odd ragdolls in the street

N_d2
-add some extra details
-added a sequence where a pistol cop busts open the first wooden double door and throws out a citizen with it

n_D3
-Not immediately clear where to go after killing Fabreen
-button door for warehouse can be pressed multiple times
-make details consistent
-a new sequence where a cop kicks open the door from the ladder area

n_D4
-not immediately clear where to go at start of the level
-some lamps will duplicate on transition
-music goes over itself
-softlock on top of containers in yard
-softlock on the car near the radio area
-extra details from n_d2
-a sequence where a gangster rolls an explosive canister (not barrel!) down some stairs
-altered double damage powerup placement so you can get more kills with it

N_d5
-make cop tables not break
-one of the wall cupboards is floating off the wall slightly
-car invisible wall in post-warehouse street isn’t very convincing
-extra details from n_d1
-a sequence where a gangster tosses a barrel down some stairs at the player

N_d6
-slow down credits speed

S_d1
-z-fighting on a grate
-a sequence where a cop acts as a sentry and another cop will ambush the player

S_d2
-add a shield scanner and mine
-altered explosive barrel placements
-a sequence where a cop tosses a crate down a slope at the player
-added a couple of explosive canisters
-new line for mine introduction

S_d3
-a sequence where a cop pushes over a table for better cover
-a sequence where you trigger a tank cannon to blow up some cops
-added a couple of explosive canisters
-put down one pre-placed mine

S_d4
-play sfx 0.5 secs later
-add a shield scanner and mine
-a sequence where a few explosive canisters are rolled off of the no-mans land into the trenches at the player
-added a couple of explosive barrels/canisters
-put down one pre-placed mine

S_d5
-make the consoles to place dynamite on more obvious
-burton line talks over Fabreen
-ceiling lamps duplicate on transition
-fix invisible grate on one door
-a sequence where one of the starting cops will ambush the player from around a corner
-added a couple of explosive canisters
-fixed some missing props around the central pillar

s_d6
-slow down credits speed

M_d1
-port in improved skybox
-hud hint on first set of kickable doors
-a sequence where a cop busts out a window in a building in the street to shoot the player
-added a couple of explosive canisters

M_d2
-make the destroyed wood parts into debris
-some manhacks introduced
-a sequence where a cop raises a table and takes cover behind it
-added a couple of explosive canisters
-new line for manhack introduction
-fixed a few obscure z-fighting issues


M_d3
-port in improved skybox from m_d4
-make version of model door with glass in it, and make the outside doors into these, tie them together
-fixed not-working double doors
-some manhacks introduced
-a sequence where a pair of cops gets up from behind a desk at the player
-added a couple of explosive canisters

M_d4
-reduce number of enemy spawns in the chopper fight
-extend chopper blast zone further
-some manhacks introduced
-a sequence where one of the starting cops will ambush the player from around a corner by kicking open a door
-added a couple of explosive canisters

M_d5
-port in improved skybox
-a sequence where a pair of cops ambush the player
-a sequence where the player can shoot out a gas line to ignite a group of cops
-fixed a visible nodraw
-fixed a mismatched texture
-fixed a misplaced cop

m_d6
-slow down credits speed
-fix part of skyscraper getting cut off
-port in improved skybox

T_d2
-disappearing citadel

T_d4
-flickering buildings

T_d5
-if you fall in the portal rooms you are softlocked
-trash can in wall
-tesla tommygun now available (without orbs to avoid fabreen cheesing)

T_d6
-slow down credits speed

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Thanks again! Please consider giving the 1.1 patch a go and amending your review if the patch addressed some of your feedback.

After six years and a commitment to finish it in 2024, it is my pleasure to announce...

THE BURTON EQUATION IS NOW LIVE ON STEAM!

This project has been a real labor of love for many years, and a lot of tough decisions had to be made this year to make sure it was ready. I've already gotten a good bit of feedback from the wider release - as expected! - so a 1.1 will be happening, hopefully before the end of the year.

Thanks all who have already played it - please leave a review if you enjoyed your time with the mod!